changing from a prepayment meter to a normal meter

FFHillbilly

I'm trying to get some help for my tenants, they want to change from the prepayment meters to normal smart meters and have a direct debit, as thats the cheapest way to get energy.

the previous 3 tenants I've had in there have all ran up a bill somehow and left debts, so when the current tenants went in they were paying a lot as every time they topped up half of the credit was going to the debt, they have sorted this out now and are only paying for what they use but it's still more expensive compared to direct debit

they tell me they can't find an energy provider that will give them account unless the prepayment meters get changed first, I don't know if this is true or not it's just what I've been told.

I thought it would be as simple as them phoning an energy supplier, signing up to a tariff, give them their bank details for the DD and that would be it? the new energy company would then go and fit their meters etcc

Is it something to do with the 3 previous tenants who all ran up debts on the utilities? and If so, how does that get resolved

QrizB

Smart meters can be switched from prepayment to credit mode remotely, by the supplier. The same meter are used for both types of accounts.

Older meters have to be physically exchanged. Prepayment meters are physically different from credit ones.

With a smart meter, you also won't get the problem of new tenants inadvertently paying for previous tenants' debts.

born_again

FFHillbilly said:

I'm trying to get some help for my tenants, they want to change from the prepayment meters to normal smart meters and have a direct debit, as thats the cheapest way to get energy.

the previous 3 tenants I've had in there have all ran up a bill somehow and left debts, so when the current tenants went in they were paying a lot as every time they topped up half of the credit was going to the debt, they have sorted this out now and are only paying for what they use but it's still more expensive compared to direct debit

they tell me they can't find an energy provider that will give them account unless the prepayment meters get changed first, I don't know if this is true or not it's just what I've been told.

I thought it would be as simple as them phoning an energy supplier, signing up to a tariff, give them their bank details for the DD and that would be it? the new energy company would then go and fit their meters etcc

Is it something to do with the 3 previous tenants who all ran up debts on the utilities? and If so, how does that get resolved

Why?
They should have created a new account. Which means supplier chases previous tenant for the debt.

EssexHebridean

born_again said:

FFHillbilly said:

I'm trying to get some help for my tenants, they want to change from the prepayment meters to normal smart meters and have a direct debit, as thats the cheapest way to get energy.

the previous 3 tenants I've had in there have all ran up a bill somehow and left debts, so when the current tenants went in they were paying a lot as every time they topped up half of the credit was going to the debt, they have sorted this out now and are only paying for what they use but it's still more expensive compared to direct debit

they tell me they can't find an energy provider that will give them account unless the prepayment meters get changed first, I don't know if this is true or not it's just what I've been told.

I thought it would be as simple as them phoning an energy supplier, signing up to a tariff, give them their bank details for the DD and that would be it? the new energy company would then go and fit their meters etcc

Is it something to do with the 3 previous tenants who all ran up debts on the utilities? and If so, how does that get resolved

Why?
They should have created a new account. Which means supplier chases previous tenant for the debt.

Presumably because they weren’t aware of this - a lot of folk aren’t, particularly if they haven’t lived with PP meters before. 

born_again

EssexHebridean said:

born_again said:

FFHillbilly said:

I'm trying to get some help for my tenants, they want to change from the prepayment meters to normal smart meters and have a direct debit, as thats the cheapest way to get energy.

the previous 3 tenants I've had in there have all ran up a bill somehow and left debts, so when the current tenants went in they were paying a lot as every time they topped up half of the credit was going to the debt, they have sorted this out now and are only paying for what they use but it's still more expensive compared to direct debit

they tell me they can't find an energy provider that will give them account unless the prepayment meters get changed first, I don't know if this is true or not it's just what I've been told.

I thought it would be as simple as them phoning an energy supplier, signing up to a tariff, give them their bank details for the DD and that would be it? the new energy company would then go and fit their meters etcc

Is it something to do with the 3 previous tenants who all ran up debts on the utilities? and If so, how does that get resolved

Why?
They should have created a new account. Which means supplier chases previous tenant for the debt.

Presumably because they weren’t aware of this - a lot of folk aren’t, particularly if they haven’t lived with PP meters before. 

But you expect the landlord to know this, or the letting agency.

Gerry1

born_again said:

EssexHebridean said:

born_again said:

FFHillbilly said:

I'm trying to get some help for my tenants, they want to change from the prepayment meters to normal smart meters and have a direct debit, as thats the cheapest way to get energy.

the previous 3 tenants I've had in there have all ran up a bill somehow and left debts, so when the current tenants went in they were paying a lot as every time they topped up half of the credit was going to the debt, they have sorted this out now and are only paying for what they use but it's still more expensive compared to direct debit

they tell me they can't find an energy provider that will give them account unless the prepayment meters get changed first, I don't know if this is true or not it's just what I've been told.

I thought it would be as simple as them phoning an energy supplier, signing up to a tariff, give them their bank details for the DD and that would be it? the new energy company would then go and fit their meters etcc

Is it something to do with the 3 previous tenants who all ran up debts on the utilities? and If so, how does that get resolved

Why?
They should have created a new account. Which means supplier chases previous tenant for the debt.

Presumably because they weren’t aware of this - a lot of folk aren’t, particularly if they haven’t lived with PP meters before. 

But you expect the landlord to know this, or the letting agency.

The landlord or letting agency will be quite content if the new tenant is unwittingly paying for usage during any void period before their tenancy commenced.

FFHillbilly

I did know about it, and I advised them to get the meters changed and set up an account when they were signing the check in documents. I know they were trying to do that but they never went through with it, change of mind about budgeting a few weeks later and they forgot about what I said
 

QrizB

FFHillbilly said:

I did know about it, and I advised them to get the meters changed and set up an account when they were signing the check in documents. I know they were trying to do that but they never went through with it, change of mind about budgeting a few weeks later and they forgot about what I said
 

OK, so you and they understand that they can't have a credit account with an old prepayment meter, and that they need to get the meters changed.

Have they asked their supplier to change their meter yet? Suppliers in most areas are falling over themselves to fit smart meters!

FFHillbilly

QrizB said:

FFHillbilly said:

I did know about it, and I advised them to get the meters changed and set up an account when they were signing the check in documents. I know they were trying to do that but they never went through with it, change of mind about budgeting a few weeks later and they forgot about what I said
 

OK, so you and they understand that they can't have a credit account with an old prepayment meter, and that they need to get the meters changed.

Have they asked their supplier to change their meter yet? Suppliers in most areas are falling over themselves to fit smart meters!

as far as I know, they have tried but can't get it done. they said one supplier would be able to give them a contract if they could get their meters changed first. their current supplier (Utilita) told them something about too many meters getting changed this year which sounds unbelievable I know. said they tried "loads" of energy companies

QrizB

OK, so can they switch company while remaining on prepayment then get their new supplier to change the meter?